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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

Webmin is a program that simplifies the process of a managing Linux or UNIX system. Traditionally, you have needed to manually edit configuration files and run commands to create accounts, set up web servers, or manage email forwarding. Webmin now lets you perform these tasks through an easy-to-use web interface, and automatically updates all of the required configuration files for you. This makes the job of administering your system much easier.

Some of the things that Webmin can do for you:

-Creating, editing, and deleting UNIX login accounts on your system.
-Exporting files and directories to other systems with the NFS protocol.
-Setting up disk quotas, to control how much space users can take up with their files.
-Installing, viewing, and removing software packages in RPM and other formats.
-Changing a systems IP address, DNS settings , and routing configuration.
-Setting up a firewall to protect your computer or give hosts on an internal LAN access to the Internet.
-Creating and configuring virtual web sites for tha Apache Web server.
-Managing databases, tables, and fields in MySQL or PostgreSQL database server.
-Sharing files with Windows systems by configuring Samba.

Webmin is the Gui Alternative to command line *nix administration. Many distributions now include Webmin as a standard package in the distribution. Even if your distribution does not include webmin you can add it if you choose to.

This book covers a lot of ground. Begining with Webmin installation to the following:

Just to name the highlights. There is over 700+ pages of info in this book.

The best thing about this book is that the text is licensed as open source. So if you do not wish to pay for the book you can go to the Webmin website to get the information that you need for your situation.

http://www.webmin.com

The only thing I found disappointing is that some of information in the book is already out of date but you can always go to the website to get the latest information on this software.

This book is great for anyone who comes from a Windows-centric background because it allows you to do things in Linux without having to memorise a lot of command line commands.

I was able to edit my grub2 configuration without having to open a terminal. Webmin can save you from doing a lot of typing at the command line.

Dated information, a lot of it available with the programme, and a lack of information about the actual commands being run by Webmin.

If I had read this book before using Webmin, I would have been a lot faster and way less confused about the on-screen dialogues, avoiding having to use the help files and the shortened terminology. Trying to work out how BIND9 or Postfix works from the help screens has gotta be the long way. This book certainly makes it all the easier. At the beginning of each chapter is the info we often scour the net hoping to find.
It was written at v1.100 and the release version at this time is v1.210, which is quite a jump but not so far to be a waste of time getting the book. But be prepared! There's a mountain of information in here that's particularly easy to read. Why? Coz it follows the operation of the Webmin interface. Even to the point of "Enter the new hostname in the Hostname field" to show one of the 5 steps to complete the task (p150). This may sound like holding hands a little too much, but in the context of the page it works well. Better to put it all, once, forever, than to leave people guessing.
And that for me would summarise the whole book.. No guessing.. Very straight to the point.

I bypassed the last 6 chapters, 45 pages, about writing webmin modules, the webmin API, themes etc. It's there if you can do Perl.. That can be for later!

I felt something was missing tho'..
When I started using guis in RH6, I got frustrated by their lack of scope.. Not everything was included in the gui, so I got to learn commandline. Now with Webmin, it does so much, I want to know HOW! Which commandline function was used? Which perl module? There are some cute functions in Webmin. 1 form, one click and presto, problem solved.. But over a modem link with https, everything drags, and the commandline is real attractive, very effective. So in the interests of empowering people, brief descriptions of the commands would really make this an indispensible book..

Maybe after the LQ Wiki gets recognition, it can become the first choice for reference in the Webmin Help search function..! That would be a magic combination!